Ohhh, it's sooo good!!  Gilbert's Chowder House serves up a delicious creamy seafood chowder. Rich, velvety and loaded with generous chunks of seafood, perfectly seasoned, and super satisfying. It's the kind of dish you keep thinking about after you leave, and crave again & again!  Definitely a must-try if you're near Portland. Comfort food at its best!! read more

Chowder served lukewarm and was thick in a gluey way. I prefer chowder to be piping hot. The bread bowl was also pretty disappointing, it wasn't fresh sourdough by any means. The spot was a little run down and the vibe of the staff was a little weird. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

The seafood chowder was fantastic! Quaint location, right in the water. Friendly service and good prices! Definitely stop by if you're in Portland. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood chowder (medium) and clam strips - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

This chowdah haus has the most amazing chowder on the East Coast! Nice job Gilbert! And it's right in the heart of the Old Port. Our waitress was bubbly and kind and our food came out quickly. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was not amazing because the tables were way too close together... but I can honestly say the food made up for the tight squeeze. Trying to find a parking spot was a nightmare, but if you can just get in the door and get a seat, the food is worth it. read more

We had the seafood and clam chowder. Both were absolutely amazing, although, I personally recommend the seafood one!! Before my hubby finished paying, the order was ready and the staff was friendly. Was one of our favorite stops during our visit! read more

The chowder was thick and full of flavor the restaurant had the yesteryear's decor with bouys and tackle My wife got clam belly's and I got the lobster grilled cheese read more

Another trip to Portland Maine and yet another 5 star review for Gilberts Chowder House! This time - after 15 years of enjoying Gilberts incredibly good food - we finally met one of the Gilbert family. I do not know his first name, but he was friendly and - for an owner of a very busy restaurant - he spent a lot of time talking to us. Bravo to this Gilbert and all the other Gilberts involved in making our many, many meals here fantastic! Is Gilberts fancy? No. There are no linen tablecloths, there is no expensive silverware or elegant glasses. But NONE OF THAT MATTERS! The food is outstanding, the service is fast and top notch and the atmosphere is fun and enjoyable every time we are there! A trip to Portland is not complete without some of Gilberts perfect chowder! Thank you, Gilberts, for giving us a place we like to call "our place!!!" read more

I was hankering' for some fried whole belly clams and scallops, and a local suggested Gilbert's which was close by, in a busy and touristy section of Commercial St. We ordered a lobster roll and Captain Gilbert's seafood platter (fried shrimp, haddock, clams, and scallops, plus 2 sides) with a small clam chowder. While it was not the most satisfying version of those foods I've had, it hit the spot, and included basically everything I like to eat when I'm in Maine (except crab cakes which they didn't have here), so 4 stars for the good coverage. I wish I also ordered the Super Seafood chowder which I saw on a neighboring table and looked tantalizing, filled with clams, shrimp, haddock, and lobster. Outdoor seating is available but it was completed full so we opted for the first available table inside. Despite the frenetic pace, the waitress on duty was good-natured and provided warm and friendly service. read more

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Great clam chowder! Did a take away order for the night. The crab cakes and chicken tenders where a bit over crispy. But the mussels were amazing, which made up for that! read more

Line out front on a Thursday evening is a good sign for good food! Server came out and told us the patio out back was heated and there was no wait to be seated, so the whole line proceeded to the patio. Heat lamps and plenty of tables! Service: Good. Server was polite, quick and responsive. Food: Chowder was pretty good. Solidly creamy with a lot of potatoes, not a lot of clam. Lobster Grilled Cheese was cold, including the cheese. Flavor blend with the cheese was good, lobster was perfectly cooked, bread had a great crunchiness to it. Lobster Roll: I did not know Maine style was cold lobster with a leaf lettuce. No sauce of any kind was a different experience than I was used to. Lobster perfectly cooked, just cold. Overall: Glad I tried it! I'm good to leave it at that. read more

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Alyssa was phenominal so sweet so considerate service and connection. She will definitely make sure you're having a great time. She's great with your kids bring ehm over for an awesome time! The lobster BLT is really creamy and served cold in your classic BLT. The bar is so full of cool Nautical and local merchandise. So many questions about the history of these items. A great ice breaker with the employees and guests. That clam chowder is also a literal hug in a cup. So creamy-so filling and wonderfully made. Adding the oyster crackers takes another textural snap whilst soaking up the soup great little additive. Wonderful and loving experience! Highly recommend. read more

Gilbert's is a great place to warm up in the cold Maine Winter. Great food and wonderful service! The Lobster Stew is the most delicious food on the planet and the grilled cheese is so crispy and cheesy. read more

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Stopped in for lunch. After we were told to seat our selves... the three waitresses on duty gave us the side eye for at least 15 minutes before even approaching our table in an a not so busy restaurant. Based upon other's reviews I tried the lobster stew... BIG mistake... I order the large. I basically had two claws worth of meat in a broth that tasted exactly like condensed milk. Nothing else... two claws in condensed milk. For $23.95. It was far from tasty. By the time we got back to our hotel my stomach was VERY angry with me. We will not be back... ever. read more

One of the best chowders I've had! This place is amazing. Good service. Tight space but they make it work. Self seating. A good experience for our Portland visit read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Super Seafood - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Haven't changed my mind. Still one of my favorite Clam Chowders. Service was great. Limited Seating. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Clam Bread Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Had the clam chowder and seafood chowder and both were so good!!! Clams were tender and a little smoky flavor to the base. Super seafood chowder was amazing. Shrimp Haddock Clam and Lobster. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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What a spectacular day in Maine! Sun was shining, no clouds and a light breeze. Amazing for this late in October! We went somewhere we could sit outside in the sun. We arrived a little bit before noon on Friday, 10/25/24 and found the perfect table in the deck. We were greeted right away and told we could sit anywhere we wanted. My friend and I each ordered a Bloody Mary. She wanted horseradish and I did NOT. These were not great Bloody Marys, unfortunately. The mix was too sweet and pretty plain. That could have been the lack of horseradish on my part. To eat, my friend had the half lobster grilled cheese and a cup of clam chowder. She loved it! Said it was exactly what she was craving. I had the fried haddock sandwich and it was everything I wanted it to be!. The fish was cooked to a golden brown and the bun had been griddled. Our server was a highlight. She was attentive and friendly. Our food came out hot and fast. It's a great spot and better than most of the touristy spots on the waterfront - in my opinion. read more

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Went here for lunch and luckily got here a little early and beat the crowd. We sat outside on the deck and had a nice view while still being able to sit on the shade. Our server was right over to welcome us. We got a round of beers which we had right away. Our server checked in several times during our meal (though not excessive). For our meals, I got the seafood chowder (large) and my husband got the single Maine lobster meal. The chowder had chunks of seafood. It was such a great deal considering the amount of food I had. I probably would have been fine with a medium chowder but the large was only $2 more. My husband was very happy with his meal. It was a really awesome deal. He left with tons of leftover fries. He enjoyed his lobster and shared with me. Overall a great meal. Would definitely recommend a stop here for a tasty meal. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - The view - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We ordered the Super Seafood Chowder, Lobster Roll with Onion Rings, and Lobster Grilled Cheese. We highly recommend the Super Seafood Chowder! It was our favorite out of the three dishes we tried. The lobster roll was very delicious but the onion rings and lobster grilled cheese were okay. The lobster grilled cheese didn't have enough lobster and the onion rings were mediocre. The service was very great and our server was very friendly! They had a laid-back casual ambiance with indoor and outdoor spacing. read more

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We came here for lunch after stopping in at a seafood market and Italian market in Portland. I had a lobster roll and it was good but nothing special. I kicked myself for not getting their seafood chowder. The service was on point and the staff chatted with us at times. Gilbert's is old fashioned New England casual inside. It was a bit on the dark side but we didn't mind. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Wow! We stumbled upon this place when walking around downtown and I'm sure glad we did! It was a Friday night - we got a table outside and the service was very prompt and friendly. She told us all about the specials, but we ended up going with a cup of chowder each. They were out of this world! I am already looking forward to going back. Drinks were strong and fairly priced too. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood and clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

This might be the best food Portland, Maine has to offer. For less than what you'd pay at a fast-food chain like Panera, you get local, delicious, and thoughtfully crafted dishes. The clam chowder bread bowl is easily one of the best I've had anywhere in the country. The wait staff is friendly, and the restaurant has a nautical charm that feels authentic, not like a parody of a bygone era. It's a meal that leaves you smiling. read more

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I love a no frills place especially when the price reflects it. Only $26 for a Lobster Roll! Where else are you going to find a price like this? Come for the fried scallops and lobster stew. So good! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Lobster Stew (Large) - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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For over a decade of going to Maine, it's my first time to try Gilbert's chowder. What a shame. I had the large clam chowder, and it's probably in the top 5 of my list. My top 1 is in Eastport, Maine. BF and a friend had the large super seafood chowder, and both were impressed. We shared 2 orders of scallops and 1 order of whole belly clams appetizer, and it was perfect. And I ordered a small salad with lobster; it was okay, the serving of lobster meat was really small and definitely not worth $30. The burgers were satisfying, with a side of coleslaw, and we all had blueberry vodka lemonade. And we had a Togo order of 2 blueberry pies. With all that $265 plus tip, it was about $315. Definitely pricey. The service was really friendly. Will I come back? Absolutely for the chowders and scallops. read more

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Very tasty clam chowder. Creative lobster sandwiches too. Had the Lobster BLT. Very tasty. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

The clam chowder was amazing! So rich and creamy. The lobster rolls were good also. Ordered as takeout.

We had such a great time here. Our server was so patient, kind, and knowledgeable about the menu. We got Lobster Rolls and the Crab Roll, and both were simply amazing. Not only these items, but we got the regular chowder and it was great. It was more of a bacon chowder( just an FYI). The food was simply amazing here. The place itself is small and very cute. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Maine Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Chowders were on point, clam chowder is tough, I have my favorite spots but here it was seasoned well and above standard. But wow wow was the blueberry pie. Just need to stop there and tell you guys to go there for the pie and any cup of chowder, it will make your day. Lovely service as well! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Chowdah!! - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

Amazing chowder and wonderful service. What more can you ask for? I stumbled upon this gem on a work trip and will most certainly be going back. The lobster was so fresh and the sandwich had great crunch to it. I got the 1/2 sandwich and 1/2 soup. The lobster blt is where it's at go and thank me later. read more

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Gilbert's Chowder House is the spot. In my research of places to eat and recommendations somehow Gilbert's didn't come up and I'm confused as to way. This place is really an amazing no frills diner type restaurant. They waitress was nice and it's really a place for a filling meal and a cool drink. I ordered a large seafood chowder and as soon as I tasted the first spoonful I wished I'd made time to come here more during my visit. Gilbert's is definitely a spot you should make when visiting Portland. read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Large seafood Chowder. - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

We stopped by Gilbert's for lunch and it was ok. It is a first come, self seated, and we selected the patio as we had our doggie with us. The service was easy going, no complaints. We ordered the lobster roll, crab meat roll and the haddock sandwich. Of course we also got the clam chowder and seafood chowders. Both the lobster and crab meat rolls were ok, just typical of every other lobster rolls I've had. Nothing too special. I really thought the chowders would be different as it is supposed to be "award winning" however the broth was so thick and creamy and the reason why it is award winning is because it is dunked with seafood on top. Otherwise there isn't anything special. Also I was shocked that they charged extra for fries or rice replacement of chips! What a waste as other restaurants don't have an upcharge! read more

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The lobster stew and chowder were to die for. Plenty of meat in the stew..only wish it was a touch bigger for the price but lots of meat in the stew to make it worth it. The large chowder can easily be split between two people. Our server was also fantastic and there was no wait on the patio around 12pm on a Thursday but the patio was still packed! They were dog friendly on the patio. I will definitely be back to try some more!!! read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Lobster Stew (small) - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This place had seafood chowder! Kinda the same as clam chowder but a bit lighter in terms of heavier or thickness plus some mild fish added. Delicious! It's a no nonsense, quick diner and worth a visit. SO much so, I went twice during my Portland stay. If I lived there, I'd buy it by the quart. read more

When planning our trip to Portland, surprisingly no one recommended this place and I don't know why! This place was literally 10/10. On the water, fast and nice service, and the food was soooo good. Probably the best clam chowder I've ever had and I love clam chowder! We got the blueberry beer... probably my favorite beer I've ever tasted! The blueberry pie was so dang tasty! Thinking of going back for round two. Add this to your itinerary :) read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - The best clam chowder I've ever had - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Great food and service! Had chowder and fish sandwich. My wife has scallops, small portion but she enjoyed them. Server was awesome! read more

The food is still as excellent as remember it, service is fast and friendly, the outside deck is a nice departure from the traditional restaurants read more

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Gilberts is like an old school seafood spot. Nothing fancy but decent. Friendly staff. Good drinks too.

I've been exclusively eating lobsta rolls while in Portland and the one at Gilbert's is the best one I've had. Loaded with lobsta, dressed perfectly with mayo, and the coleslaw was Service was friendly and surprisingly fast. And eating off the dock was the perfect ambiance. read more

Went here for a quick dinner and a beer and I always enjoy getting a bite to eat here. The inside is very Portland themed and they also have a nice deck outside if you want to eat with a view of the water. Service is always fast and there's always welcoming. This place is my go to for fried clams and most fried seafood for that matter. The prices on the lobster are some of the best in the city as well. We got the lobster stew and for the price there was a lot of lobster meet in there. And the soup itself is so buttery and flavorful with lots of tender lobster bits. The clam cakes weren't great though, very little amount of clam and just super cakey with not a lot of flavor. The clams are also very overpriced. But I'm giving this place 4 stars based off of tall the other delicious food they have in their menu. Definitely try this place out if you're in the area to get a bite of Portland for yourself *this is only our opinion* read more

Gilbert's Chowder House - Lobster stew - Seafood Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We weren't sure if this place was a tourist trap...didn't matter. Fantastic clam chowder...Dare I say the best I've had. Big plus, the staff there is beyond friendly. Great experience on all accounts read more